There was a sense of excitement and nerves when families congregated in the Chapel on the Monday morning before our Year 9 camp began, as parents placed their letters of encouragement into their child’s beanies and said their farewells for the week. Let The Adventure begin!

Concordia – The Rite Journey recently completed its most significant event of the year so far in The Adventure camp to the Flinders Ranges. It was an experience that the Year 9 students found challenging yet rewarding and a time where Concordia staff witnessed the students' personal growth and development of friendships. It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to experience challenges in a supportive environment, try new things, experience some incredible views, build on their friendships, and possibly develop new ones throughout the week. The boys' and girls' camps both focused on the overarching theme of challenges and how working through them helps form our identity, develop resilience and—when experienced together—build a sense of community. Students explored what makes them the person they are and how they contribute to the wider group. This was experienced through physical, emotional and social challenges that the students were faced with throughout the camp.

The staff on both camps were amazed with the students' endurance, resilience and willingness to give all aspects of the camp their best shot. We were particularly impressed with the way each group bonded around the focus on a common goal and how this led to a great sense of community for the week of camp. I am sure the students will have come away from this camp with a sense of personal achievement and an understanding that trying new things outside of their comfort zone will stretch them and lead to personal growth. This is a life lesson that we can all hold on to and of which we need to be constantly reminded.

A special thanks to the Concordia staff who supported The Adventure camp so well, along with the staff of Wilderness Escape Outdoor Adventures who supported everything we implemented throughout the week. 

Here are some student reflections from their time on camp:

• “The rock climbing and abseiling was my highlight!”
• “I really enjoyed camp because I got to connect with a lot of new people”
• “Camp was one of the best weeks of school; I loved talking to new people and new friends”
• “I loved connecting people I haven’t had the chance to talk to”

Ben Crook
Year 9 Leader